System and method for establishing wireless connection

ABSTRACT

System and Method for establishing wireless connection A system for establishing wireless connection between a peripheral device and an intelligent device in a multi-computer environment having a plurality of intelligent devices is disclosed. The system is in part included within the peripheral device which is preferably a mouse device and also is included within the intelligent device which is preferably a computer system. Specific routines of the system allow a user to work with any of the intelligent devices using only the one mouse device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Technical Field

[0002] The present invention relates in general to wireless datacommunication between different computer devices, and in particular to amethod and apparatus for automatically establishing a wirelessconnection between a peripheral device and a computer device.

[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0004] These days it is more and more common to have one user workingwith several computer systems in his office. With the currenttechnology, each computer system uses its own peripheral device tocontrol cursor displacement on the computer display screen, such as acabled or a wireless mouse device. The major drawback is that the userhas to use a different peripheral device each time he works with adifferent computer system which is not convenient and could lead tofastidious manipulation.

[0005] Another problem arising from the use of different peripheraldevices is the software support required for these peripheral devices.In fact, currently each manufacturer of peripheral devices such asInternational Business Machines Corp. provides the peripheral device,along with a diskette including a device driver program which is to beinstalled on the computer system by the user. Thus, there is a need fora unique peripheral device that may be used with any number of computersystems the user works with.

[0006] The present invention offers a method to automatically install adevice driver program of the peripheral device without the need of sucha diskette.

[0007] Finally, the present invention is directed towards a userfriendly system and method which offers to the user an easy way toestablish a wireless link between a peripheral device and a selectedcomputer system among a plurality of computer systems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] In accordance with the invention, there is provided a peripheraldevice for establishing wireless connection with an intelligent device.The peripheral device comprises logic for controlling a cursordisplacement on a display screen of the intelligent device, and furthercomprises:

[0009] (1) logic coupled to the controlling logic for generating aplurality of identification signals, where the identification signalscomprise at least a device driver signal identifying the device driverassociated to the peripheral device, and

[0010] (2) logic coupled to the controlling logic for analyzing at leastone acknowledgment signal received from the intelligent device inresponse to the plurality of identification signals.

[0011] Preferably, a first actuation means, such as a push button,located on the cover of the peripheral device are actuated by a userduring the generation of the plurality of identification signals.Similarly, second actuation means, such as a predetermined key of akeyboard connected to the intelligent device, are also actuated by theuser during the generation of the plurality of the identificationsignals.

[0012] In the preferred implementation, the identification signals andthe acknowledgment signals are HDLC frames having a specific controlfield for defining the kind of frame, i.e., if the frame is transmittedfrom the peripheral device or from the intelligent device, if the frameis a synchronization one or a desynchronization one or a frame whichcontains the device driver to be download to the intelligent device.

[0013] Also in accordance with the present invention, a system forestablishing wireless connection between a peripheral device and anintelligent device in a multi-computers environment having a pluralityof intelligent devices, is provided. The system is in part includedwithin the peripheral device, which is preferably a mouse device, andalso is included within the intelligent device, which is preferably acomputer system. Specific routines of the system allow a user to workwith any of the intelligent devices using only the one mouse device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014]FIG. 1 depicts a multi-computer environment wherein the cablelessperipheral device of the invention may link to anyone of the computers.

[0015]FIG. 2 is a top view of the mechanical part of a cableless mousefor use in accordance with the present invention.

[0016]FIG. 3 is a schematic of one embodiment of the electronicimplementation of the cableless mouse of the present invention.

[0017]FIG. 4 is a detailed schematic of the support circuit of FIG. 3.

[0018]FIG. 5 shows the different formats of the HDLC frames exchangedbetween the cableless mouse in accordance with the present invention.

[0019]FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the steps of the mouse devicestand-by routine.

[0020]FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the steps of the interrupt routineassociated to the synchronization/desynchronization push button.

[0021]FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the steps of the mouse serialcommunication controller interrupt routine.

[0022]FIGS. 9a, 9 b, and 9 c show flowcharts of the steps of theinfrared PC serial communication controller interrupt routine.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0023]FIG. 1 shows a general block diagram of a preferred infrared mouseenvironment of the invention. Generally stated, the present inventioncomprises a convenient technique for allowing a peripheral device to beconnected through a wireless communication to a selected device among aplurality of intelligent devices in a dense computing environment. Theselected intelligent device could be a stationary device or a mobilecomputing device. In the detailed embodiments presented below, theperipheral device is assumed to comprise a data mouse. However, thoseskilled in the art should recognize that the concepts presented hereinare equally applicable to other types of peripheral data storage orcomputing devices. On FIG. 1, a mouse device 10 is wirelessly coupled,e.g., using infrared waves 12 and 14, to a selected computer system 16among a plurality of neighbored computer systems (16-2 to 16-n).Computer system 16 is equipped with graphical user interface software,such as that supported by the IBM OS/2 operating system of InternationalBusiness Machines Corp. Use of infrared waves 12 and 14 allows greaterfreedom of placement of device 10 compared with a hardwired connectionof the devices. Other wireless communication techniques could also beemployed. For example, a wireless optical communication link orelectromagnetic wave may be used if desired. A preferred mouseconfiguration is shown with two “clicker” buttons 18, a “push” button20, and a mouse ball assembly (not shown). Computer system 16 has adisplay screen, a keyboard, and additional hardware 22 to communicatewith mouse device 10. As explained briefly above, a significantadvantage of the present invention is the ability to establish awireless connection between a mouse device and a selected computingsystem in a dense computing environment having a plurality of computingsystems (16-2 to 16-n) in close proximity to one another. Each computersystem (16, 16-2 to 16-n) comprises specific features 22 made ofhardware circuitry and software programs, which allow, in accordancewith the present invention, the automatic establishment of wirelessconnection between mouse device 10 and one of the multiple computersystems.

[0024]FIG. 2 shows a mechanical view of one preferred embodiment of amouse device 10 in accordance with the present invention. The mousedevice 10 has a built-in means for controlling the pointer on agraphical user interface equipped computing device. Although the presentinvention is described herein in connection with a mouse, the conceptspresented are not limited to that particular portable structure. Mousedevice 10 contains standard mouse components such as a mouse ball 24 andmouse buttons 18. An infrared (IR) communications means 26 is added towireless mouse device 10 as well as a push button 20. These componentsare discussed further below in connection with FIG. 3.

[0025]FIG. 3 shows the internal electronic circuitry 30 of the mousedevice 10. The electronic circuit 30 includes a set of light emittingdiodes (LED) 26, an infrared LED driver 32, an infrared LED receiver 34and wireless communication support circuitry 36. Support circuitry 36incorporates the lowest hardware level of protocol for thecommunications, and is described with reference to FIG. 4.

[0026]FIG. 4 is a detailed view of the support circuit 36 of FIG. 3.Infrared LED driver 32 and infrared LED receiver 34 are connected to amultiplexer 40. One data input of multiplexer 40 is coupled to a mousehardware control circuitry 41, the other data input of multiplexer 40 iscoupled to a serial communication controller (SCC) 42. The mousehardware control circuitry 41 is a standard infrared implementation andis not described in detail because it is not part of the presentinvention. SCC 42 is also connected to a local bus 43 on which is alsoconnected a mouse identification Programmable Read Only Memory (PROM) 44and a microcontroller 45. A control I/O of microcontroller 45 isconnected to the control input of multiplexer 40, microcontroller 45 hastwo interrupt lines (INTP1, INTP2), the highest priority interrupt line‘INTP 1’ is connected to SCC 42, the lowest priority interrupt line‘INTP2’ is connected to push button 20. Microcontroller 45 is a standardcommercial component including well-known Random Access Memory (RAM)device and Read Only Storage (ROS) device. The ROS device stores thewireless communication program. The mouse identification PROM 44 storesa vendor identification pattern, which allows recognition of the mousemanufacturer, and a device driver of the mouse.

[0027] A user willing to work with a desired computer system (PC) mustsynchronize the mouse to the PC. To do so, the user has to press andhold one predefined key of the PC keyboard while also pressing the pushbutton 20 located on the mouse device 10 as long as the mouse pointer onthe display screen stays inactive. When the mouse pointer becomesactive, such as having a moving appearance, the user stops pressing boththe PC keyboard key and the mouse push button 20. Thereafter, the userworks in a usual wireless environment to begin any application on theselected computer system.

[0028] The predefined synchronization key on the keyboard, which in thepreferred implementation is chosen to be the ‘S’ key letter, is analyzedby the IR software running in the PC as will be further described withreference to FIG. 9.

[0029] The user willing to work with another PC with the same mousedevice has to first desynchronize from the active PC and then to beginthe synchronization operation with the new selected PC in the way aspreviously described. To desynchronize, the user must press and hold onepredefined key of the PC keyboard while the push button 20 located onthe mouse device 10 is pressed as long as the mouse pointer on thedisplay screen is active. This predefined desynchronization key which inthe preferred implementation is chosen to be the ‘D’ key letter isanalyzed by the IR software running in the PC as it will be furtherdescribed with reference to FIG. 9. One skilled in the art willunderstand that any other predefined keys of a keyboard could beselected for both the synchronization and the desynchronizationoperations.

[0030] Preferably these synchronization and desynchronization operationsbetween the mouse device and the computer system use the well-known HDLCframes, but other protocols could be used without departing from thespirit of the invention

[0031]FIG. 5 shows the different formats of the HDLC frames exchangedbetween the mouse in accordance with the present invention and thecomputer device. On top of FIG. 5, lines 50, 51 and 52 illustrate theHDLC transmit frames (XMT frames) sent by the mouse device 10 to the PCs(16, 16 i, 16 n). Similarly, the three bottom lines 53, 54 and 55illustrate the HDLC receive frames (RCV frames) sent by the PCs (16, 16i, 16 n) to the mouse device 10.

[0032] Generally speaking, the HDLC frames are made of a starting flag(Fs), a control byte (CNTL), data bytes (V, Range), two CyclicRedundancy Check (CRC) bytes and an ending flag (Fe). The control byteis one feature of the invention that the control byte be characteristicof each frame. It is composed of two parts: the four highest bits arereferred to as Acknowledge bits (ACK) and the four lowest bits arereferred as Command bits (CMD). The command bits (CMD) are set by themouse device while the Acknowledge bits (ACK) are set by the PC.

[0033] The control byte (CNTL) specifies the type of the transmit andreceive frame. In the preferred implementation, three types of framesare defined for each group of three frames, but it is to be understoodthat a different number of frames could be defined.

[0034] For the transmit group, a first transmit frame is referred as thesynchronization frame (SYNC). The control byte is set by the mousedevice to an hexa pattern 01 (X‘01’). For a second transmit framereferred as the desynchronization frame (DE-SYNC), the control byte isset by the mouse device to an hexa pattern 04 (X‘04’). For a thirdtransmit frame referred as the device driver frame (DD) the control byteis set by the mouse device to an hexa pattern 02 (X‘02’).

[0035] For the receive group, a first receive frame is referred to asthe PC synchronization acknowledgment frame (SYNC-PC-ACK), and thecontrol byte is set by the PC to an hexa pattern 11 (X‘11’). For asecond receive frame referred as the PC desynchronization acknowledgmentframe (DE-SYNC-PC-ACK), the control byte is set by the PC to an hexapattern 44 (X‘44’). For a third receive frame referred as the PC devicedriver acknowledgment frame (DD-PC-ACK) the control byte is set by thePC to an hexa pattern 22 (X‘22’).

[0036] In the data bytes area, a first byte ‘V’ defines the vendoridentification. This number is defined and given to a vendor by theinfrared standard organization. Each vendor has a unique number.

[0037] The other data bytes are dependent on the type of the HDLCframes. For the referenced frames 50, 51, 53 and 54, these bytesrepresent the address of the mouse device which is unique for each mousedevice produced by a vendor. In the preferred embodiment, the address isdefined by four bytes which is a correct number to address more thanfour giga different mouses, but the skilled man could easily definedanother number of bytes if necessary.

[0038] For the referenced frames 52 and 55, these bytes represent thedevice driver of the mouse device which is downloaded from the mousedevice to the PC. The number of bytes depends on the manufacturer devicedriver development.

[0039] As now illustrated by FIG. 6, the mouse device stand-by routineis described. This routine starts running from the mouse power ON by theactivation of a power-on switch (not shown on the figures).Microcontroller 45 performs a mouse device self-test at step 60. Next,block 62 tests if any error. In case of failure (branch YES) a visuableerror LED (not shown on the figures) is switched ON at step 64 andMicrocontroller 45 stops at step 66. In case there is no failure at thetest device (branch NO), Microcontroller 45 executes the commoncommunication protocol layers on step 68. Any event such as a useraction on push button 20 or status reception from serial communicationcontroller 42 generates an interruption of the stand-by routine to enterthe respective event process.

[0040] Coming from reset, the mouse device is in IDLE state. When theuser presses the push button 20, Microcontroller 45 executes the stepsof the interrupt routine associated to thesynchronization/desynchronization push button as shown on FIG. 7. Onblock 700, the multiplexer is set to a port B which means that SCC 42 isconnected to the infrared interface. On block 701, a software variablecalled ‘SYNC-MODE’ is tested active. Because the previous state of themouse device is IDLE, the variable ‘SYNC-MODE’ is not active and theroutine goes to block 702 where a synchronization frame 50 is sent. Onnext block 704, processing holds for a predefined time interval. Duringthis time interval, a serial communication controller interrupt routineis executed as will be further described in details with reference toFIG. 8.

[0041] At the end of the time interval, the ‘SYNC-PC-ACK’ softwarevariable is tested to be active on block 706. If the variable is notactive, which means that the interrogated PC is not yet responding tothe mouse request, then the routine loops to block 702 where a frame(50) is sent again.

[0042] If the variable is active, the process goes to block 708 wherethe device driver frame (52) is sent to the responding PC.

[0043] On next block 710, processing holds for a predefined timeinterval. At the end of the time interval, the ‘DD-PC-ACK’ softwarevariable is tested to be active on block 712. If the variable is notactive then the routine loops to block 708, where frame 52 is sentagain.

[0044] If the variable is active (branch YES), the process goes to block714 where the software variable SYNC-MODE is set active. On block 715,the multiplexer is set back to port A which means that the mousehardware control is connected to the infrared interface and the processexit the routine.

[0045] Coming back to block 701, when the SYNC-MODE variable is active,the process goes to block 716, where the desynchronization frame 51 issent. On next block 718, processing holds for a predefined timeinterval. At the end of the time interval, the ‘DE-SYNC-PC-ACK’ softwarevariable is tested to be active on block 720. If the variable is notactive, then the routine loops to block 716 until the active PC sends anactive ‘DE-SYNC-PC-ACK’ frame. In this case (branch YES of block 720),the process goes to block 722 where the software variable SYNC-MODE isset inactive. On block 715, the multiplexer is set back to a port Awhich means that the mouse hardware control 41 is connected to theinfrared interface and the synchronization process exit the routine.

[0046]FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the steps of interrupt routine ofthe serial communication controller 42 located in the mouse device. Thisprocess is executed each time the serial communication controllertransmits or receives a frame. On block 800, Microcontroller 45 readsthe content of an interrupt control register. Block 802 determines thesource of the interrupt signal (INTP1). On branch YES, the sourceinterruption is an end of transmission and the process exits theroutine. On branch NO, the source of the interruption corresponds to thereception of a frame sent by a PC, and the process goes on with step 804which checks if the reception is a frame of the type PC synchronizationacknowledgment (53). If YES, the process goes to step 816 where thesoftware variable SYNC-PC-ACK is set active and the process exits theroutine. If NO, the process goes to step 806 which checks if thereception is a frame of the type PC device driver acknowledgment (55).If YES, the process goes to step 814 where the software variableDD-PC-ACK is set active and the process exits the routine. If NO, theprocess goes to step 808 which checks if the reception is a frame of thetype PC desynchronization acknowledgment (54). If YES, the process goesto step 812 where the software variable DE-SYNC-PC-ACK is set active andthe process exits the routine. If NO, the process goes to step 810 whichhandles an erroneous received frame and then the process exits theroutine.

[0047] It is to be noted that steps 804, 806 and 808 could be operatedin another sequence without changing the functionality of the routine.

[0048]FIGS. 9a, 9 b and 9 c depict one embodiment of an interruptroutine flowchart of the infrared PC serial communication controller inaccordance with the present invention. This process is executed eachtime the PC serial communication controller transmits or receives aframe.

[0049] On block 900 of FIG. 9a, the processor of the PC reads theinterrupt control register to determine the source of the interruptsignal. Branch Yes of block 902 determines a receive interruption whilebranch NO determines a transmit interruption. From branch YES, theprocess goes to step 904 to check if a synchronization frame of the type50 has been received from the mouse device. If YES, a timer isinitialized on block 906 to allow the PCs which are not selected to exitthe routine when the timer elapses. Next, according to a time outdecision block 908, the process either exits the routine (branch YES) orjumps to block 910 which checks a keyboard input from the user. If theuser presses the ‘S’ key, then the process goes to step 912 otherwisethe process loops to step 908. It should be noted at this stage that theuser must enter the ‘S’ key to synchronize the device mouse with theselected computer system. On block 912, the timer is reset, and the PCserial communication controller sends the PC synchronizationacknowledgment frame (53) to the mouse device on block 914. Next, asoftware variable PC synchronization (SYNC-PC) is set on block 916, andfinally, the routine ends.

[0050] Going back to step 904, with reference to FIG. 9b, if thereceived frame is not a synchronization frame, block 918 checks if theframe is a device driver frame (52). If YES, the process installs andactivates the received device driver on step 920. The PC serialcommunication controller sends on block 922 the PC device driveracknowledgment frame (55) to the mouse device. Next, a software variablePC device driver (DD-PC) is set on block 924, and finally, the routineends.

[0051] Going back to step 918, if the received frame is not a devicedriver frame, block 926 checks if the frame is a desynchronization frame(51). If YES, a timer is initialized on block 928 to allow the PCs whichare not selected to exit the routine when the timer elapses. Next,according to a time out decision block 930, the process either exits theroutine (branch YES) or jumps to block 932 which checks a keyboard inputfrom the user. If the user presses the ‘D’ key, then the process goes tostep 934 otherwise the process loops to step 930. It should be noted atthis stage that the user must enter the ‘D’ key to desynchronize thedevice mouse with the selected computer system. On block 934, the timeris reset, and the PC serial communication controller sends the PCdesynchronization acknowledgment frame (54) to the mouse device on block936. Next, a software variable PC desynchronization (DE-SYNC-PC) is seton block 938, and finally, the routine ends.

[0052] Going back to step 926, if the received frame is not adesynchronization frame (branch NO), the routine ends and the systementers the common wireless communication protocol for reception aspreviously defined on block 68 of FIG. 6.

[0053] Going back again to block 902 with reference to FIG. 9-c, branchNO determines a transmit interruption. The process goes to step 940 tocheck if the PC synchronization acknowledgment frame of the type 53 hasbeen sent to the mouse device. If YES, the software variable SYNC-PC isreset at step 942 and the routine ends. If NO, the process goes to step944 to check if the PC device driver acknowledgment frame of the type 55has been sent to the mouse device. If YES, the software variable DD-PCis reset at step 946 and the routine ends. If NO, the process goes tostep 948 to check if the PC desynchronization acknowledgment frame ofthe type 54 has been sent to the mouse device. If YES, the softwarevariable DE-SYNC-PC is reset at step 950 and the routine ends. If NO,the routine ends and the system enters the common wireless communicationprotocol for transmission as previously defined on block 68 of FIG. 6.

[0054] Although specific embodiments of the present invention have beenillustrated in the accompanying drawings and described in the foregoingdetailed description, it will be understood that the invention is notlimited to the particular embodiments described herein, but is capableof numerous rearrangements, modifications and substitutions withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention. The following claims areintended to encompass all such modifications.

What is claimed is:
 1. A peripheral device for establishing wirelessconnection with an intelligent device comprising: means for generating aplurality of identification signals, said identification signalscomprising at least a device driver signal identifying the device driverassociated to said peripheral device; and means for analyzing at leastone acknowledgment signal received from said intelligent device inresponse to said plurality of identification signals, and setting saidperipheral device in an active wireless mode.
 2. The peripheral deviceof claim 1, wherein the generating means comprises first actuation meansto be actuated by a user during the generation of the plurality ofidentification signals.
 3. The peripheral device of claim 2, wherein thefirst actuation means is a push button located external to theperipheral device.
 4. The peripheral device of claim 3, wherein theperipheral device is a wireless mouse device.
 5. The peripheral deviceof claim 4, wherein the generating means further comprises means forgenerating the plurality of identification signals according to apredetermined sequence.
 6. The peripheral device of claim 5, wherein thefirst generated identification signal is a synchronization signal. 7.The peripheral device of claim 6, wherein the means for analyzing theacknowledgment signals further comprises means for setting theperipheral device in a state corresponding to the receivedacknowledgment signals.
 8. The peripheral device of claim 7, wherein theacknowledgment signals comprises at least a device driver acknowledgmentsignal meaning that the intelligent device has stored the device driverof the peripheral device.
 9. The peripheral device of claim 8, whereinthe intelligent device comprising means for processing the plurality ofidentification signals received from said wireless peripheral device.10. The peripheral device of claim 9, wherein the processing meansfurther comprises second actuation means to be actuated by a user duringthe generation of the plurality of the identification signals.
 11. Theperipheral device of claim 10, wherein the second actuation means arepredefined keyboard keys of a keyboard connected to said intelligentdevice.
 12. The peripheral device of claim 11, wherein the processingmeans further comprises means for selecting a specific routine accordingto the first identification signal received from said wirelessperipheral device and means for generating at least one acknowledgmentsignal.
 13. The peripheral device of claim 12, further comprising meansfor indicating to the user a receipt at least by said peripheral deviceof one of the plurality of acknowledgment signals.
 14. The peripheraldevice of claim 13, wherein the indication to the user is the activationor the deactivation of the cursor on the display screen of saidintelligent device.
 15. The peripheral device of claim 14, wherein saidintelligent device is a computer system.
 16. The peripheral device ofclaim 15, wherein the plurality of identification signals is in the formof HDLC frames including a control data stream for defining therespective identification frame.
 17. The peripheral device of claim 16,wherein the plurality of acknowledgment signals is in the form of HDLCframes including a control data stream for defining the respectiveacknowledgment frame.
 18. The peripheral device of claim 17, furthercomprising means for controlling a cursor displacement on a displayscreen of the intelligent device.
 19. A method for establishing wirelessconnection between a peripheral device and at least one of a pluralityof intelligent devices, comprising: generating from the peripheraldevice a plurality of identification signals, said identificationsignals comprising at least a device driver signal identifying thedevice driver associated to said wireless peripheral device, generatingfrom the at least one intelligent device at least one acknowledgmentsignal in response to a receipt of the plurality of identificationsignals; and setting the peripheral device in a wireless active mode byanalyzing within the peripheral device the at least one acknowledgmentsignal.
 20. The method of claim 19, further comprising: actuating afirst actuation means coupled to said peripheral device; andsimultaneously actuating a second actuation means coupled to the atleast one of the plurality of intelligent devices.
 21. The method ofclaim 20, wherein the step of generating a plurality of identificationsignals further comprises generating a first synchronization signal. 22.The method of claim 21, wherein the step of analyzing the at least oneacknowledgment signal further comprises setting a register of theperipheral device in a state corresponding to the receivedacknowledgment signals.
 23. The method of claim 22, wherein the step ofgenerating at least one acknowledgment signal further comprises storingthe device driver address within a storage area of the at least oneintelligent device.
 24. The method of claim 23, further comprisingsignaling the user once at least one of the plurality of acknowledgmentsignals has been received by said peripheral device.
 25. The method ofclaim 24, wherein the plurality of identification signals is in the formof HDLC frames including a control data stream for defining therespective identification frame.
 26. The method of claim 25, wherein theplurality of acknowledgment signals is in the form of HDLC framesincluding a control data stream for defining the respectiveacknowledgment frame.
 27. A system for establishing wireless connectionbetween a peripheral device and one of a plurality of intelligentdevices in a multi-computer environment having a plurality ofintelligent devices, said system comprising: at least one peripheraldevice having means for generating a plurality of identificationsignals, said identification signals comprising at least a device driversignal identifying the device driver associated to said wirelessperipheral device; at least one intelligent device having means forgenerating at least one acknowledgment signal in response to a receiptof the plurality of identification signals; and means for setting theperipheral device in a wireless active mode by analyzing within theperipheral device the at least one acknowledgment signal.
 28. The systemof claim 27, further comprising: a first actuation means coupled to saidperipheral device; and a second actuation means coupled to the at leastone intelligent device.
 29. The system of claim 28, wherein the firstactuation means is a push button located external to the peripheraldevice.
 30. The system of claim 29, wherein the second actuation meansis a predefined keyboard key of a keyboard of the at least oneintelligent device.
 31. The system of claim 30, wherein said peripheraldevice is a wireless mouse device.